All powers of the Township of Middletown shall
be vested in the Township Council of Council Members (hereafter called
"the Council"), except as otherwise provided by law or this Charter,
and the Council shall provide for the exercise thereof and for the
performance of all duties and obligations imposed on the Township
by law.
There shall be a Township Council consisting
of seven members. Three shall be nominated and elected by the qualified
electors of the Township at large, and four shall be nominated and
elected by the qualified electors of the four voting districts as
hereinafter provided.
The regular terms of Council Members shall be
four years beginning at 8:00 p.m. on the first Monday of January,
or the next day following which is a non-holiday, following the year
in which they are elected, except for the first Council to serve under
this Charter, the members of which will serve for staggered terms
as provided hereinafter.
The Township shall consist of four districts
which shall contain as nearly as possible equal numbers of residents
as determined by the latest official census of the U.S. Bureau of
Census. No district shall vary by more than 15% from the average of
all of the districts at the time of reapportionment. A district shall
be contiguous and shall follow natural geographic boundaries to the
extent possible consistent with the principle of equal population.
[Amended 8-12-2002 by Ord. No. 630]
The establishment of the first districts, to
be known as the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Districts, shall
be by this Charter. The boundaries of said districts shall be as follows:
VOTING DISTRICT NO. 1: BEGINNING at a point
of intersection of the center line of Dutton Mill Road with the center
line of Chester Creek; thence northeasterly along the southeastern
border of Middletown Township to the center line of Ridley Creek;
thence, northwesterly along the southeastern border of the Township
to the point of intersection of the center line of Ridley Creek with
the center line Bortondale Road; thence, southwesterly along the center
line of Bortondale Road to its intersection with the center line of
South Old Middletown Road; thence, south along the center line of
South Old Middletown Road to its intersection with the common boundary
line of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and property located at 454
South Old Middletown Road; thence, southwesterly along that common
boundary line extended to a point in the center line of South New
Middletown Road; thence, south along the center line of South New
Middletown Road to its point of intersection with the common property
line of property of Indian Orchard Park and property located at 5
Copes Lane; thence, following the southern property line of Indian
Orchard Park to its intersection with the rear property lines of lots
on Cricket Lane thence southeasterly along the rear common boundary
line of property at 490 and 500 Cricket Lane and property at 27 and
35 Copes Lane to the point of intersection of the common boundary
line of properties on Cricket Lane and the Hidden Hollow Swim Club;
thence, southwesterly along this common boundary line to a point representing
the rear common boundary corner of a lot at 495 Cricket Lane and a
lot at 441 Mount Alverno Road; thence, extending in a northwesterly
direction along the common boundary line of the lot at 441 Mount Alverno
Road and various properties located on Cricket Lane between 180 and
190 Hidden Hills Lane to the center line of Hidden Hills Lane; thence,
westerly along the center line of Hidden Hills Lane to the center
line of its intersection with Mount Alverno Road; thence, northwesterly
along the center line of Mount Alverno Road until its intersection
with the common property line of Alverno Valley Farms and properties
located on Willowgate Lane; thence, generally southerly and westerly
following the common boundary line of Alverno Valley Farms and properties
on Willowgate Lane and Olde House Lane to the point of intersection
of the common boundary line of grounds of Alverno Valley Farms with
property at 350 Howarth Road; thence, northwesterly along the common
boundary line of lots at 350 Howarth Road and 424 Olde House Lane
to the point of intersection with the common boundary line of lots
at 350 Howarth Road and 311 Howarth Road; thence, southwesterly along
the northern property line of the lot at 350 Howarth Road to a point
of intersection representing the common property corner at the rear
of lots at 336 Howarth Road and 350 Howarth Road; thence, westerly
from this point along a line 1,200 feet more or less to a point in
the center of Chester Creek which constitutes the Township line adjoining
Aston Township; thence, southeasterly along the center line of the
Chester Creek which constitutes the Township line between Middletown
Township and Aston Township to the first mentioned point and place
of beginning.
VOTING DISTRICT NO. 2: BEGINNING at a point
of intersection of the center line of Bortondale Road with the center
line of Ridley Creek; thence, northwesterly along said creek forming
the boundary line between Middletown Township and Upper Providence
Township to the center line of U.S. Route 1; thence, southwesterly
along the center line of U.S. Route 1 to a point of intersection with
an extension of the common boundary line dividing properties located
on South Heilbron Drive and property now or late of the Elwyn Institute
located to the north of the Media By-Pass; thence, southwesterly along
this common property line to a point of intersection of the common
property lines of 592 South Heilbron Drive and 24 Penn Charter Drive;
thence, northwesterly along the common property lines of 592 and 585
South Heilbron Drive and properties at 24 and 26 Penn Charter Drive
and 113 Blackhorse Lane to the point of intersection of the rear of
lots at 585 South Heilbron Drive and 113 Blackhorse Lane with property
at 740 West Rose Tree Road; thence, southwesterly along the common
property line of 740 West Rose Tree Road and properties on Blackhorse
Drive extended to its intersection with the center line of North Middletown
Road; thence, southeasterly along the center line of North Middletown
Road to its intersection with the center line of Baltimore Pike; thence,
westerly along the center line of Baltimore Pike to its intersection
with the common property line of Riddle Glen Condominiums and Riddle
Memorial Hospital; thence, southeasterly along the common property
line of Riddle Memorial Hospital with the Riddle Glen Condominiums
and properties on South Middletown Road to the common boundary line
at the rear of Riddle Memorial Hospital with Williamson Trade School;
thence, southwesterly along the common boundary line of Williamson
Trade School with Riddle Memorial Hospital and Granite Run Townhouses
extending to the intersection with the center line of the Chrome Run;
thence, southeasterly along the Chrome Run to the center line of the
right-of-way of the SEPTA Rail Lines; thence, along the center line
of the SEPTA right-of-way in a southwesterly direction to a point
of intersection in the center line of South Pennell Road; thence,
southeasterly along the center line of South Pennell Road to the center
line of Chester Creek; thence, in a southerly direction along the
center line of the Chester Creek 1,600 feet more or less to a point
in the Chester Creek due west of a point of intersection representing
the common property corner at the rear of lots at 336 Howarth Road
and 350 Howarth Road; thence, easterly along this line 1,200 feet
more or less to the common property corner at the rear of lots at
336 Howarth Road and 350 Howarth Road; thence, northeasterly along
the northern property line of the lot at 350 and 340 Howarth Road
to its point of intersection with the rear boundary of a lot at 424
Olde House Lane; thence, southeasterly along the common boundary line
of lots at 350 Howarth Road and 424 and 425 Olde House Lane to the
point of intersection with the boundary of property of Alverno Valley
Farms; thence, generally in a northerly and easterly direction along
the common boundary line of Alverno Valley Farms with properties on
Olde House Lane and Willowgate Lane to the center line of Mount Alverno
Road; thence, southeasterly along the center line of Mount Alverno
Road to the center line of its intersection with Hidden Hills Lane;
thence, easterly along the center line of Hidden Hills Lane to the
common boundary line between property at 190 and 180 Hidden Hills
Lane; thence, southeasterly along this common boundary line extending
to a point representing the common rear lot corner of 441 Mount Alverno
Road and 495 Cricket Lane; thence, northeasterly along the common
boundary line of properties on Cricket Lane and the Hidden Hollow
Swim Club to the point of intersection of property at 27 and 35 Copes
Lane and property at 500 Cricket Lane; thence, northwest along the
property at 500 and 490 Cricket Lane to the point of intersection
of the southeastern property line of Indian Orchard Park; thence,
following the southeastern property line of Indian Orchard Park north
and east to its intersection with the common property line of Indian
Orchard Park and South New Middletown Road; thence, north from a point
in the center line of South New Middletown Road to the common boundary
line of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and 425 South New Middletown
Road; thence, northeasterly along the common boundary line of Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania and properties at 464 and 452 South Old Middletown
Road to the center line of South Old Middletown Road; thence, north
along the center line of South Old Middletown Road to its intersection
with the center line of Bortondale Road; thence, northeasterly along
the center line of Bortondale Road to its intersection with the first
mentioned point and place of beginning.
VOTING DISTRICT NO. 3: BEGINNING at a point
of intersection of the center line of West Baltimore Pike at its point
of intersection with the common property line of Riddle Glen Condominiums
and Riddle Memorial Hospital; thence, southeasterly along the common
property line of Riddle Memorial Hospital with the Riddle Glen Condominiums
and properties on South Middletown Road to the common boundary line
at the rear of Riddle Memorial Hospital with Williamson Trade School;
thence, southwesterly along the common boundary line of Williamson
Trade School with Riddle Memorial Hospital and Granite Run Townhouses
extending to the intersection with the center line of the Chrome Run;
thence, southeasterly along the Chrome Run to the center line of the
right-of-way of the SEPTA Rail Lines; thence, along the center line
of the SEPTA right-of-way in a southwesterly direction to a point
of intersection in the center line of South Pennell Road; thence,
southeasterly along the center line of South Pennell Road to the center
line of Chester Creek; thence, in a generally northwesterly direction
along the center line of Chester Creek, being the Township line dividing
Middletown Township, Aston Township, the Borough of Chester Heights,
and Thornbury Township to a point of intersection with the northwestern
property line of the Middletown Township Darlington Tract; thence,
northeasterly along this common property line with the Darlington
Tract and the Darlington Valley PRD to its point of intersection with
the rear property line of 275 New Darlington Road; thence northwesterly
and northeasterly along the common property line of 275 New Darlington
Road and the Darlington Valley PRD to its point of intersection with
the common property line dividing properties on Paul Lane from properties
on New Darlington Road; thence, extending northeasterly along this
common boundary line to its point of intersection with the southern
property line of 351 New Darlington Road; thence, continuing northeasterly
along this property line to its intersection with the center line
of New Darlington Road; thence, northerly along the center line of
New Darlington Road to its intersection with the center line of Valley
Road; thence southeasterly along the center line of Valley Road to
its intersection with the center line of Darlington Road; thence,
northeasterly along the center line of Darlington Road to its intersection
with the common property line separating property at 300 Darlington
Road and property of Delaware County at Fair Acres; thence, generally
south and east following the property line of property of Delaware
County at Fair Acres to its point of intersection with the southernmost
property line of the Middletown Crossing Townhouses; thence, southeasterly
along the common property line separating the Middletown Crossing
Townhouses and the rear of property at 1263 West Baltimore Pike to
its intersection with the common property line dividing the Middletown
Crossing Townhouses and the Pennell Place Townhouses; thence, northeasterly
along the common boundary line separating the Middletown Crossing
Townhouses and the Pennell Place Townhouses to its point of intersection
with the rear property line of 60 North Pennell Road; thence, southerly
and easterly following this common property line dividing the Pennell
Place Townhouses from property at 60 and 56 North Pennell Road to
the center line of North Pennell Road; thence, northerly along the
center line of North Pennell Road approximately 150 feet to its point
of intersection with the common property line dividing properties
at 57, 55, and 59 North Pennell Road from properties at 61 North Middletown
Road and the rear of lots on North Middletown Road; thence, easterly
along this common property line to its point of intersection with
the common property line of property at 218 North Middletown Road
and the rear of property at 34 Oriole Avenue; thence, north along
the common property line of 218 North Middletown Road and the rear
of lots on Oriole Avenue to the intersection with the property line
at the rear of 52 Oriole Avenue and 206 North Middletown Road; thence,
east along the common property line of 52 Oriole Avenue and 206 North
Middletown Road to the center line of Oriole Avenue; thence, north
along the center line of Oriole Avenue to its intersection with the
northern property line of a lot at 57 Oriole Avenue; thence, southeasterly
along this property line to the rear of properties located on Oriole
Avenue; thence, southerly along the rear of lots on Oriole Avenue
and property 1067 West Baltimore Pike (Granite Run Mall) to the southern
property line of a lot at 29 Oriole Avenue; thence, along this southern
property line to its intersection with the center line of Oriole Avenue;
thence, south along the center line of Oriole Avenue to its intersection
with the center line of West Baltimore Pike; thence, easterly along
the center line of West Baltimore Pike to the first mentioned point
and place of beginning.
VOTING DISTRICT NO. 4: BEGINNING at a point
of intersection of the center line of U.S. Route 1 with the center
line of the Ridley Creek; thence, in a northwesterly direction along
the center line of Ridley Creek, being the Township dividing line
dividing Middletown Township and Upper Providence Township to its
intersection with the Township line dividing Middletown Township and
the Townships of Edgmont and Thornbury; thence, along said Township
line in a southwesterly direction to the center line of the Chester
Creek; thence, southeasterly along the center line of the Chester
Creek being the Township line dividing Middletown Township and Thornbury
Township to its intersection with the northwestern property line of
the Middletown Township Darlington Tract; thence, northeasterly along
this common property line with the Darlington Tract and the Darlington
Valley PRD to its point of intersection with the rear property line
of 275 New Darlington Road; thence, northwesterly and northeasterly
along the common property line of 275 New Darlington Road and the
Darlington Valley PRD to its point of intersection with the common
property line dividing properties on Paul Lane from properties on
New Darlington Road; thence, extending northeasterly along this common
boundary line to its point of intersection with the southern property
line of 351 New Darlington Road; thence, continuing northeasterly
along this property line to its intersection with the center line
of New Darlington Road; thence, northerly along the center line of
New Darlington Road to its intersection with the center line of Valley
Road; thence, southeasterly along the center line of Valley Road to
its intersection with the center line of Darlington Road; thence,
northeasterly along the center line of Darlington Road to its intersection
with the common property line separating property at 300 Darlington
Road and property of Delaware County at Fair Acres; thence, generally
south and east following the property line of property of Delaware
County at Fair Acres to its point of intersection with the southernmost
property line of the Middletown Crossing Townhouses; thence, southeasterly
along the common property line separating the Middletown Crossing
Townhouses and the rear of property at 1263 West Baltimore Pike to
its intersection with the common property line dividing the Middletown
Crossing Townhouses and the Pennell Place Townhouses; thence, northeasterly
along the common boundary line separating the Middletown Crossing
Townhouses and the Pennell Place Townhouses to its point of intersection
with the rear property line of 60 North Pennell Road; thence, southerly
and easterly following this common property line dividing the Pennell
Place Townhouses from property at 60 and 56 North Pennell Road to
the center line of North Pennell Road; thence, northerly along the
center line of North Pennell Road approximately 150 feet to its point
of intersection with the common property line dividing properties
at 57, 55, and 59 North Pennell Road from properties at 61 North Middletown
Road and the rear of lots on North Middletown Road; thence, easterly
along this common property line to its point of intersection with
the common property line of property at 218 North Middletown Road
and the rear of property at 34 Oriole Avenue; thence, north along
the common property line of 218 North Middletown Road and the rear
of lots on Oriole Avenue to the intersection with the property line
at the rear of 52 Oriole Avenue and 206 North Middletown Road; thence,
east along the common property line of 52 Oriole Avenue and 206 North
Middletown Road to the center line of Oriole Avenue; thence, north
along the center line of Oriole Avenue to its intersection with the
northern property line of a lot at 57 Oriole Avenue; thence, southeasterly
along this property line to the rear of properties located on Oriole
Avenue; thence, southerly along the rear of lots on Oriole Avenue
and property 1067 West Baltimore Pike (Granite Run Mall) to the southern
property line of a lot at 29 Oriole Avenue; thence, along this southern
property line to its intersection with the center line of Oriole Avenue;
thence, south along the center line of Oriole Avenue to its intersection
with the center line of West Baltimore Pike; thence, easterly along
the center line of West Baltimore Pike to its intersection with the
center line of North Middletown Road; thence, northwesterly along
the center line of North Middletown Road to its intersection with
the northern property line of 17 North Middletown Road; thence, northeasterly
along the common property line of properties at 25 North Middletown
Road and 240 West Rose Tree Road and properties on Blackhorse Drive
to the point of intersection of the rear of lots at 585 South Heilbron
Drive and 113 Blackhorse Lane; thence, southeasterly along the common
property lines of 585 and 592 South Heilbron Drive and properties
at 113 Blackhorse Lane and 26 and 24 Penn Charter Drive to its intersection
with common boundary line between properties located on South Heilbron
Drive and property now or late of the Elwyn Institute; thence, northeasterly
along this common property line extended to a point in the center
line of U.S. Route 1; thence, northeasterly along the center line
of U.S. Route 1 to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.
Reapportionment of Council Members to Districts
thereafter shall be by ordinance and shall occur only in the following
circumstances:
A. Within the year following the year in which the Decennial
U.S. Census Reports are officially certified, the Council shall reapportion
the districts in accordance with this Charter.
B. At such other times as may be necessary after the
effective date of this Charter, upon showing that a district varies
in population by more than 15% from the average of all the districts,
the Council shall reapportion the districts in accordance with this
Charter.
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If an existing Council Member is removed from
his district by any such reapportionment, he shall continue to represent
said district until the end of his term.
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Except as provided in Section 209C(4), the Council
may take no official action except at an open meeting in the presence
of a quorum, consisting of a majority of the total membership. All
actions of the Council shall be taken by the adoption of an ordinance,
resolution, or motion. All legislation shall be enacted by the adoption
of ordinance. All ordinances and resolutions must be in written form.
Voting, except on procedural matters, shall be by roll call vote,
and the vote of each member of the Council shall be entered in the
record of the meeting. A majority vote of all members of the Council
shall be required to adopt an ordinance. Resolutions or motions shall
be adopted by a majority vote of all the members of the Council present,
except as otherwise provided herein.
In addition to legislation or other acts required
by law or by specific provision of this Charter to be done by ordinance,
those acts of the Council shall be by ordinance which:
A. Adopt or amend an Administrative Code;
B. Establish, alter or abolish any Township department,
office or agency;
C. Establish, levy and collect taxes, and increase or
decrease the rate of existing taxes;
D. Authorize the borrowing of money except for revenue
anticipation or emergency loans;
E. Exercise the power of eminent domain;
F. Provide for a fine or other penalty, or establish
a rule or regulation for violation of which a fine or other penalty
is imposed;
G. Grant, renew, or extend a franchise;
H. Purchase, convey, lease, or authorize the purchase,
conveyance, or lease of any real property;
I. Establish, alter, or amend any zoning ordinance, subdivision
procedure, land development, land use, or building regulation;
J. Amend or repeal any ordinance previously adopted.